Donovan L. Eskesen Obituary (1939 - 2019)

Donovan L. Eskesen, 79, of Pontiac, passed away Sunday (Feb. 3, 2019) at OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington. His service will be Saturday at Duffy-Baier-Snedecor Funeral Home, Pontiac, with a VFW memorial service at 3 p.m. and a memorial service following. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. He was born Nov. 5, 1939, in Painesville, Ohio, the son of Bud and Thelma Bunce Eskesen. He married Cynthia J. Dodd on Sept. 21, 1968, in Painesville, Ohio. She survives in Pontiac. Also surviving are children, Kelley M. (Ron) Witcraft, Hainesville, and Tracy M. (David) Von Briesen, Third Lake; sister, Erma (Dan) Holloway, Knoxville, Tenn.; and grandchildren, Katelyn Witcraft, Joshua Witcraft, Nicholas Von Briesen and Christopher Von Briesen. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Christian Eskesen. He graduated in 1958 from Riverside High School and received a degree in airframe and power plant from Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. Donovan worked for 30 years at Caterpillar in Pontiac as a machinist. He spent 10 years in the United States Navy from 1958-1968. He was a member of the Livingston County War Museum; USS Hancock Association; VFW Post 886, past commander; USS Oriskany Association, past president; USS Ticonderoga Association; and Pontiac American Legion. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Condolences may be made to the family at duffyfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.